Dartmouth Housing for Homeless Veterans Provides New Lease on Life

The former State Police barracks in Dartmouth on Anderson Way just off of Route 6 has officially opened to once-homeless and at-risk veterans. The O'Connor-Sisson House for Veterans will house nine tenants, with veterans moving in as soon as next week.

Michael LeRoux, an Army veteran, has been living in a mini-van for two years and has been selected as one of the home's tenants. He tells WBSM News the opportunity has given him a much more positive outlook for his life after a bleak stretch of time. "Because a lot of times out there you don't know if you're going to make it through the night. And a lot of times out there, you might want to do something stupid because you're so stressed and depressed," said LeRoux. "But now this brought my spirits and my feelings back up to hope."

So far, seven veterans have been chosen by the Dartmouth Housing Authority to occupy the home. It was an eight year and $2.6 million process to renovate the former barracks into the O'Connor-Sisson House for Veterans.

Connie Desbiens, executive director of the Dartmouth Housing Authority, tells WBSM News she hopes the new housing inspires other area organizations to provide more services for homeless veterans. "This is a seed. And this is the first housing in the entire neighborhood/neighborhood communites, so hopefully other people will take note and do some of their own," said Desbiens. "We do have a lot of veterans that need help and this is just the beginning."

Coastline Elderly Services and the Veterans Transition House in New Bedford will provide programs and benefits for the veterans living there.